HOLYOKE — A spotlight will be installed at City Hall to illuminate the American flag when it flies at night, officials said Tuesday.

Title 4, Section 6, "Time and occasions for display," under the United States Code, which outlines the country's general and permanent laws, requires that if the flag is to be displayed round the clock, it must be lit at night.

The practice here has been, and the Code allows, for the city to display the American flag at City Hall between sunrise to sunset, with a janitor taking it down at the end of the work day and raising it again the next morning, officials said.

The code states: "It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed 24 hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness."

The display of the flag became a concern over the weekend. Veteran Harold Skelton, 31, noticed the American flag was absent from the tall silver pole it adorns on the High Street side of City Hall while the rainbow gay pride flag still flew from an adjacent pole. The gay pride flag was raised for the third straight year at City Hall on June 6 after the city's first gay pride parade.

Mayor Alex B. Morse, the city's first openly gay mayor, led a brief ceremony after the parade in front of City Hall. He holds veterans and military personnel in the highest regard, he said.

"I have nothing but admiration for the men and women who have fought and are currently fighting for our nation’s freedom," Morse said.

"Just last week I was in Washington, D.C., as one of only three Massachusetts mayors who have joined the Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, pledging my commitment to end veteran homelessness in Holyoke by 2015," he said.

Skelton questioned why the gay pride flag remained displayed while the American flag was missing.

"I have nothing against homosexuals. I have two family members who are. Just speaking with other vets, I just personally think it's disrespectful to the vets. How hard is it to get a simple light on there to illuminate the flag?" said Skelton, who said he did tours in Iraq in the U.S. Air Force from 2006 to 2012.

Veterans and others who lost family members are sensitive to such matters now, Skelton said, because this is the 70th anniversary of D-Day, when 160,000 Allied troops landed in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944 to fight Nazi Germany.

"This is not a homosexual thing. This is about veterans rights," Skelton said.

Rory Casey, Morse's chief of staff, said nothing disrespectful was intended and the explanation was simple: "Because we are not open on the weekends, nor have janitors working then, we take the flag down on Friday and it goes back up on Monday. The pride flag, along with the other flags that fly on that pole during the year are not governed by the same rules, and are left up because its easier than taking a second flag down each day."

The American flag is supposed to be taken down at sunset, but it was observed flying on the pole in front of City Hall Monday night just before midnight. That was an oversight, said William D. Fuqua, general superintendent of the Department of Public Works. Getting a light placed to illuminate the American flag is in process, he said.

"We'll see what we can do to expedite the installation of the light," Fuqua said.

Morse said in a statement (the text of which is below) it was unfortunate concerns were raised only in relation to the gay pride flag. Similar concerns weren't mentioned when the American flag was removed over the weekend but flags remained celebrating Poland, Ireland or Puerto Rico, he said.

"The pride flag wasn't raised because I'm gay, it was raised because we are a community that values all of our residents," said Morse, who said assertions that he has a "gay agenda" are false.

"My agenda includes better schools, more jobs and safer streets. If that's what some consider a 'gay agenda' then so be it," Morse said.

City Councilor James M. Leahy said he has filed an order that will require that the American flag in front of City Hall either be removed every day at dusk or illuminated at night.

"City Hall has to set an example for everyone in regards to protocol for the flag. Many families have received folded flags because of the deaths of loved ones so we can raise our flags. Let's not show them any disrespect," Leahy said.

(Here is the text of Mayor Alex B. Morse's statement on the subject of the American and gay pride flags flying at City Hall):

"Since taking office, my office has organized numerous flag raisings for a
wide array of causes, following the same protocol for each flag raising
ceremony that’s been held outside of City Hall. We’ve held flag ceremonies
that have included the Polish Flag, the Irish Flag, Donate Life Awareness
Month, the Puerto Rican Flag, Foster Child Awareness Month, and Child Abuse
Prevention Month. Not one of these ceremonies has prompted concern and
criticism like the insults that have followed the Pride Flag raising
ceremony held last Friday.

"Considering that not one person from the public contacted our office
following the other flag raising ceremonies we’ve held, I have to believe
that this is an unfortunate result of the homophobia and prejudice that
last Friday’s flag raising prompted.

"I have been accused of promoting a 'gay agenda' since I first announced my
candidacy for mayor, and I’m certain these accusations will continue long
after I’m gone. I make no apologies for raising a flag that celebrates
diversity and acceptance, just as I make no apologies for raising the flags
that celebrate the Irish, the Polish, our Puerto Rican population, and the
other important causes that we’ve helped to raise awareness about. I was
proud to join mayors from all across Massachusetts and all across the
United States in calling attention to pride month. The Pride flag wasn't
raised because I'm gay, it was raised because we are a community that
values all of our residents. I look forward to continuing to make Holyoke a
safe and accepting community for all people, and I urge those who feel so
passionately about this flag raising to attend the many others we hold
throughout the year. My agenda includes better schools, more jobs, and
safer streets. If that's what some consider a "gay agenda" then so be it.

"It’s unfortunate that this is now being used as an argument against the
respect I have for our nation’s Veterans. I have nothing but admiration for
the men and women who have fought and are currently fighting for our
nation’s freedom. Just last week I was in Washington DC as one of only
three Massachusetts Mayors who have joined the Mayor’s Challenge to End
Veteran Homelessness, pledging my commitment to end Veteran Homelessness in
Holyoke by 2015. Earlier in the winter, I was joined by the Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 801 to present a proclamation to the family of Private
George G. Clarke, a resident of Holyoke who is still considered “missing in
action” from WWI. I’m currently working with our director of Veterans’
Services, Jim Mahoney, to ensure that the HG&E and DPW can install the
street flags throughout our City in recognition of Flag Day on June 14. My
administration has also worked to support state initiatives such as the
Valor Act in 2012 and the Valor Act II this year. The policy in question,
to take down the American flag at night and over the weekend, pre-dates my
administration and is in accordance with Title 4 of the US code. It is in
no way meant to be a sign of disrespect."